Telephone switchboard



Oct. 20, 1931. c. BORGMANN TELEPHONE SWITCHBOARD Filed ocuzs. 1930 C BORGMANN B) A TTORNEY wiring,

Patented Oct. 20, 19 31 UNITED STATES CHARLES BORGMANN, or GREAT NECK, NEW ,yomrjhssienoaro LL 'rminrnoivn LABORATORIES, mconromrnn, or NEw'YoaK, 1\r.;Y., conron rrron or NEW YORK TELEPHONE SWITGHIBOARD Application filed October 23, i930 seriai'iiogiedio.j

This invention relates to switchboards and more particularly to switchboards equipped with cords.

An object of this invention is to permit easy and quick removal of the rear,side and lower front panels thereof and the substitution therefor of other panels of any desired material, color or finish, thus reducing the number of switchboards required to be carried in stock supply customers requirements.

Another object is to prevent injury to apparatus and wiring, mounted in the lower part of the switchboard, from the swaying of cords and their suspended cord weights.

A feature of the invention, therefore, resides in the provision of a switchboard having a steel frame or carcass on which is mounted a keyshelf, a roof, an upper front panel and all the required apparatus and and so arranged that rear, side and lower front panels of any desired material,

color or finish can be attached and detached quickly and with little effort.

Another feature resides in the prov1sion of a flexible barrier, which in practice may be a canvas curtain, interposed between the cord weights and apparatus or wiring mounted in the lower part of the switchboard. The bottom of this curtain is adapted to be pulled forward and upward and held in a raised position by means of a hook adapted to engage the keyhole of the keyshelf lock whereby the cords and their associated cord weights are held out of the way to give free access,

from the front of the board, to apparatus or wiring mounted in the lower part.

The invention will be better understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings;

Fig. 1 of which shows the removable side panels and the method of fastening them to the framework; and

Figs. 2 and 8 show the canvas curtain and the method of fastening it in either the vertical stretched or raised position.

Referring to the drawings, the switchboard 1 consists of a metal framework formed of horizontal bars 2, 3, 4:, 5, 6, 7, etc. and vertical bars 8, 9, 10, etc. fastened together in such a way as; to provide mounting *spacefor the switchboard apparatus 11, the 'keyshelf 12, cordshelf 13, etc. The lock rail 14 and top 15 are fastened to the" framework by screws or otherwise firmly j attached. The lower front panel16 is removable by raising it vertically about ands winging it forward fromthebottom, whereuponit may be disengaged at the top by lowering it a short distance. This generalarrangement for remo v able front and rear "panels for switchboards is old and has been in use for sometime and therefore forms nofpartbf the present invention'. Likewise the rear panel '17, only aportion of whichis', shown, is arranged to be removedin the same manner.. p

' One of thefeature's of the invention, as previously referred to, resides in the removable side panels 18 and 19' wl'iich are adapted to be held in position by the members 20 which pass'fthrougli slots 21 in" the horizontal bars 1,2, 5, etc. and aretightly locliedin place by means of the tapered keys '22. In order to reniove th e side panels forthe purpose of to remove the six keys 22 'lneach side and lift thepanelsawayL "fIn addition to' ,th removablefside panels the other feature previously referred to is that ofthe'c'anvas curtain 28 which is supported atthetopby the rod2 l which rests in brackets 25 attachedlto the inner side of the horizontal bars'2and 3. The lower end of the curtain is terminated in a second rod 26 which is caught under. the spring tensioned brackets27 attachedto thelinner side of the lower horizontal bars 5' and 6. ,Attached to themi ddle ofthe lower maze is a hook shaped member '28} which. is adapted to be hooked into; the key hole 29 in the lock rail 14. When1 the curtain 23 is held in a vertical positionibet'ween the brackets; 25" and27 the cord weights 30 are prevented from injuring the wiring 31 or apparatus 11 in the rear of the switchboard in case the cord weights are caused to sway by movement of the cords 32 from which they are suspended.

In case it is desired to obtain access to the lower part of the switchboard from the front, the front panel 16 is removed in the manner previously described and the rod 26 is disengaged from the spring brackets 27'. The curtain 23 may be then pulled forward and upward and fastened in a raised position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 by hooking the member 28 into the key hole 29. This operation raises the cords and cord Weights out of the waythus giving free accessto the wiring 31 and apparatus 11.

What is claimed is:

1. In a switchboard, the combination with board behind and adjacent said cord weights and within striking distance thereof anda curtain of flexible material normally separating the space occupied by said cord weights from said apparatus to prevent contact therebetween, the bottom of said ourtain being arranged to be fastened in araised position to move said cords and cord Weights to give free access .to said apparatus from the front of the switchboard. V

3. In a switchboard, a plurality of dangling switchingcords, each held taut by a cord weight, a panel of electrical apparatus within strikingdistance of said cord weights, and a flexible barrier normally interposed between said apparatus and said weights, said flexible barrier serving as a means ,to' move said cords and weights collectively to give access to said panel, 7

4. In a switchboard, in combination, a plurality of switchingcords depending therefrom into the lower portion thereof, each cord being held taut by a suspended. cord weight, a panel of electrical apparatus mounted within striking distance of said cord weights, a curtain of yielding material normally interposed between said cord weights and said apparatus, the bottom of said curtain being adapted to be drawn forward and raised to move said cords and weights to give free access from the front of the board to said apparatus, and means for holding the curtain in said raised position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day of October, 1930. I

CHARLES BORGMANN. 

